This study served two primary purposes: (a) to explore students' perceptions regarding the utilization of technology in their classroom-based instruction, and (b) to provide an overview of the current use of technology in classrooms that encompasses all high school students. The significance of the study was to contribute to the body of research…

This dissertation explored STEM faculty description of using a Student Response System (SRS) in higher education engineering classrooms, aimed to understand their experiences, practices, and perceptions of SRS as a pedagogical tool for enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes. The research questions driving this qualitative study focused…

In the modern era, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have revolutionized diverse fields yet a deficiency in geographical education lingers in the U.S. educational system. This dissertation offers a thorough analysis of this gap, focusing on the potential of the GIS as an innovative solution for enriching geographical education. The Geospatial…

Project-based learning is used in K-12 schools to foster student agency, engagement, autonomy, and motivation. Constructivist and motivation theories support project-based learning in the classroom. Project-based learning approaches in education use the essential standards of project-based learning to establish in-person learning or online…

This dissertation is about designing learning environments that foreground students' epistemic agency as they "do science" in a science classroom. I build on the prior work that combines two important strands in learning sciences - agent-based modeling of complex systems and constructionism to design learning environments. I call such…

Hurricanes pose significant risk to life and property to communities adjacent to the tropical cyclone basins of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In the United States, there are significant public misconceptions about hurricane hazards such as wind and storm surge, despite timely and accurate forecasts and warnings. However, appropriate…

To date, numerous institutions have transformed traditional lecture halls into technology-enabled active learning classrooms (TEALC) to adapt to the educational notion of "active learning" (AL). To investigate what occurs and how TEALCs are being used for teaching and learning, one of these spaces was evaluated in a Midwestern…

Achieving an in-depth understanding of unfamiliar science concepts has been found to be difficult when learners can not index science language to relevant sensorimotor experiences. Ongoing research in embodied cognition highlights the importance of relevant sensorimotor experiences in understanding and learning new information. Aiming to foster…

Civil discourse is our most basic form of civic engagement. In a democracy, it is our best tool for collectively answering a society's most fundamental question: "What shall we do?" While most of us have no doubt participated in political discussions, engaging in civil discourse that is productive (i.e., dialogue that "fosters…

This mixed-methods study involved implementation of virtual field trip (VFT) projects in an online undergraduate foreign language (FL) course, with a close focus on four student participants' use of VFTs over four weeks. Participants explored an Italian city using desktop virtual reality; narrated their experiences, and created an annotated…

Using a learning management system (LMS) to deliver robust content for K-12 students became an essential part of the discussion of technology's place in K-12 education when teachers were forced to teach online at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers used an LMS to deliver content in various ways and as part of different instructional…

Literature has argued that starting new churches is biblical and strategic, requiring the effective equipping of church planters and leaders through adult learning methods (Acts 13:1-4 and 14:20-23; Keller, 2003, p. 1; Reimer, 2016, p. 74). The sobering reality is that about one-third of church plants do not survive (Stetzer & Bird, 2007, p.…

The tradition of lecturing in higher education is synonymous to teaching (Morrison, 2014). Fortunately, those in higher education today are pushing for viable alternatives such as active learning because several studies have shown the positive impact on student performance, student achievement, and other learning goals (Auerbach & Andrews,…

In the present study, the researcher investigated the effects flipped lessons have on academic performance in an undergraduate anatomy and physiology class and examined how this learning experience contributed to student involvement. The researcher applied an explanatory mixed methods design to investigate differences in academic performance and…

Competency-based education (CBE) has become well-accepted as a powerful way to personalize learning. Today's advanced technologies have enhanced CBE even further. Practitioners in the field are seeking means to take advantage of technology to increase CBE's effectiveness and efficiency, especially for adult learners. Microlearning and digital open…